US10487188B2 - Propylene resin foamed particle and foamed particle molded body - Google Patents

Propylene resin foamed particle and foamed particle molded body Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US10487188B2
US10487188B2 US15/744,219 US201615744219A US10487188B2 US 10487188 B2 US10487188 B2 US 10487188B2 US 201615744219 A US201615744219 A US 201615744219A US 10487188 B2 US10487188 B2 US 10487188B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
propylene
resin
based resin
expanded
melting point
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US15/744,219
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20180215891A1 (en
Inventor
Taizo KITAHARA
Michitoshi ONO
Kazuo Tsurugai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JSP Corp
Original Assignee
JSP Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JSP Corp filed Critical JSP Corp
Assigned to JSP CORPORATION reassignment JSP CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KITAHARA, Taizo, ONO, Michitoshi, TSURUGAI, KAZUO
Publication of US20180215891A1 publication Critical patent/US20180215891A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US10487188B2 publication Critical patent/US10487188B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
    • C08J9/22—After-treatment of expandable particles; Forming foamed products
    • C08J9/228—Forming foamed products
    • C08J9/232—Forming foamed products by sintering expandable particles
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
    • C08J9/0061—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof characterized by the use of several polymeric components
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
    • C08J9/16—Making expandable particles
    • C08J9/18—Making expandable particles by impregnating polymer particles with the blowing agent
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/0008—Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
    • C08K5/0066—Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
    • C08K5/13—Phenols; Phenolates
    • C08K5/136—Phenols containing halogens
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2201/00—Foams characterised by the foaming process
    • C08J2201/02—Foams characterised by the foaming process characterised by mechanical pre- or post-treatments
    • C08J2201/03—Extrusion of the foamable blend
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2323/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2323/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
    • C08J2323/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2323/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2323/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
    • C08J2323/16—Ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2423/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2423/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
    • C08J2423/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
    • C08J2423/06—Polyethene
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2423/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2423/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
    • C08J2423/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
    • C08J2423/12—Polypropene
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2423/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2423/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
    • C08J2423/16—Ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
    • C08J9/04—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof using blowing gases generated by a previously added blowing agent
    • C08J9/12—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof using blowing gases generated by a previously added blowing agent by a physical blowing agent
    • C08J9/122—Hydrogen, oxygen, CO2, nitrogen or noble gases
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/01—Hydrocarbons
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/02—Halogenated hydrocarbons
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L2205/00—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features
    • C08L2205/02—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
    • C08L2205/025—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to tubular expanded propylene resin beads and an expanded beads molded article having interconnected voids.
  • Expanded thermoplastic resin beads are excellent in lightness in weight, cushioning properties, and heat insulating properties, and expanded beads molded articles having a three-dimensional shape are obtained by means of in-mold molding.
  • the expanded beads molded articles are high in a degree of freedom of shape design, so that they are utilized as a cushioning material, a container, a heat insulating material, a vibration-damping material, or the like in multipurpose fields inclusive of packaging fields, commodities for living, building and civil engineering materials, vehicle members, and the like.
  • the expanded thermoplastic resin beads are roughly classified into those made of a styrene-based resin as a base material resin and those made of an olefin-based resin as a base material resin.
  • the expanded beads made of a styrene-based resin as a base material resin are used more frequently than the expanded beads made of an olefin-based resin as a base material resin for the reasons that the former is excellent in a balance between lightness in weight and compression strength of the expanded beads molded article, is easy for undergoing in-mold molding of the expanded beads, and is inexpensive in terms of a raw material.
  • the expanded beads made of a styrene-based resin have excellent aspects as described above, they are insufficient in heat resistance, chemical resistance, durability, toughness, and creep resistance characteristics depending upon uses. For that reason, among the expanded beads made of an olefin-based resin, the expanded beads made of a propylene-based resin, which are excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance, durability, toughness, creep resistance characteristics, and so on, are watched.
  • the expanded propylene resin beads molded articles having voids are excellent in characteristics, such as water permeability, air permeability, sound-deadening qualities, etc., and have appropriate rigidity and elasticity, they are used for building and civil engineering materials, vehicle interior materials, and so on, and their uses are expanded. Furthermore, following the recent expansion of uses, performances required against the expanded propylene resin beads molded articles having voids are being more increased. That is, from the viewpoints of enhancements in characteristics, such as water permeability, air permeability, sound-deadening qualities, etc., expanded beads molded articles having a high voidage are required. Moreover, from the viewpoints of durability, impact resistance, and the like, expanded beads molded articles which are strong in fusion strength among the expanded beads and also excellent in deflection properties are required.
  • PTL 1 discloses that in order to utilize fusion characteristics by a propylene-based resin having a low melting point, thereby decreasing a molding pressure of steam at the time of in-mold molding, while revealing appearance, heat resistance, and mechanical physical properties by a propylene-based resin having a high melting point, the propylene-based resin having a high melting point and the propylene-based resin having a low melting point are mixed under specified conditions.
  • PTLs 2 and 3 disclose that in order to decrease a molding pressure of steam at the time of in-mold molding of expanded propylene resin beads, expanded propylene resin beads in which a core layer of the expanded bead is covered with a resin having a low melting point are used.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide expanded propylene resin beads which enable in-mold molding to achieve at an extremely low pressure of a heating medium and which are excellent in fusion bonding properties; and an expanded resin beads molded article having interconnected voids, having excellent fusion bonding properties among expanded beads, and exhibiting sufficient mechanical physical properties.
  • the present invention is as follows.
  • An expanded propylene resin beads including a core layer being in a foamed state, having a tubular shape, and being constituted of a propylene-based resin composition (a) and a cover layer covering the core layer and being constituted of an olefin-based resin (b),
  • the propylene-based resin composition (a) is a mixture of 75% by weight to 98% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a1) having a melting point of 100° C. to 140° C. and 2% by weight to 25% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a2) having a melting point of 140° C. to 165° C., provided that a sum total weight of the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2) is 100% by weight;
  • a difference between the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a2) and the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a1) [(melting point of a2) ⁇ (melting point of a1)] is 15° C. or more;
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a crystalline olefin-based resin having a melting point (TmB) that is lower than a melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the melting point (TmB) [TmA ⁇ TmB] being more than 0° C. and 80° C. or less; and
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a non-crystalline olefin-based resin having a softening point (TsB) that is lower than the melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the softening point (TsB) [TmA ⁇ TsB] being more than 0° C. and 100° C. or less.
  • TsB softening point
  • ⁇ 4> The expanded propylene resin beads as set forth in ⁇ 1> or ⁇ 2>, wherein the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2) each is a propylene-based resin obtained through polymerization in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst.
  • ⁇ 5> The expanded propylene resin beads as set forth in any one of ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 4>, wherein the propylene-based resin composition (a) has a flexural modulus of 900 MPa to 1,200 MPa.
  • ⁇ 6> The expanded propylene resin beads as set forth in any one of ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 5>, wherein the propylene-based resin composition (a) has a content of the propylene-based resin (a1) of more than 90% by weight and 98% by weight or less and a content of the propylene-based resin (a2) of 2% by weight or more and less than 10% by weight, provided that a sum total weight of the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2) is 100% by weight
  • expanded propylene resin beads which enable in-mold molding to achieve at an especially low pressure of a heating medium and which are excellent in fusion bonding properties; and an expanded resin beads molded article having interconnected voids, having excellent fusion bonding properties among expanded beads, and exhibiting sufficient mechanical physical properties.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view expressing an example of an expanded propylene resin bead of the present invention, which includes a core layer being in a foamed state, having a tubular shape and being constituted of a propylene-based resin composition and a cover layer covering the core layer and being constituted of an olefin-based resin.
  • FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2F is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2G is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 2H is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • FIG. 4A is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a tubular hole of the tubular shape which the core layer in the present invention has.
  • FIG. 4B is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a tubular hole of the tubular shape which the core layer in the present invention has.
  • FIG. 4C is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a tubular hole of the tubular shape which the core layer in the present invention has.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a state of a surface of the expanded propylene resin beads molded article having interconnected voids of the present invention.
  • the expanded propylene resin beads of the present invention is an expanded propylene resin beads including a core layer being in a foamed state, having a tubular shape, and being constituted of a propylene-based resin composition (a) and a cover layer covering the core layer and being constituted of an olefin-based resin (b), the propylene-based resin composition (a) satisfying the following (i) and (ii), and the olefin-based resin (b) satisfying the following (iii) or (iv):
  • the propylene-based resin composition (a) is a mixture of 75% by weight to 98% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a1) having a melting point of 100° C. to 140° C. and 2% by weight to 25% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a2) having a melting point of 140° C. to 165° C., provided that a sum total weight of the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2) is 100% by weight;
  • a difference between the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a2) and the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a1) [(melting point of a2) ⁇ (melting point of a1)] is 15° C. or more;
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a crystalline olefin-based resin having a melting point (TmB) that is lower than a melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the melting point (TmB) [TmA ⁇ TmB] being more than 0° C. and 80° C. or less; and
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a non-crystalline olefin-based resin having a softening point (TsB) that is lower than the melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the softening point (TsB) [TmA ⁇ TsB] being more than 0° C. and 100° C. or less.
  • TsB softening point
  • the expanded propylene resin beads molded article having interconnected voids of the present invention is one obtained through in-mold molding of the expanded propylene resin beads of the present invention.
  • Expanded propylene resin beads expanded beads
  • Olefin-based resin (b) resin (b)
  • TmA melting point
  • TsB softening point
  • Expanded propylene resin beads molded article expanded beads molded article
  • the expanded beads of the present invention satisfy the aforementioned constituent features, expanded beads which are excellent in both fusion bonding properties and secondary expandability even by means of in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of a heating medium are provided. Then, the expanded beads molded article obtained through in-mold molding of the expanded beads becomes a molded article which exhibits favorable mechanical physical properties, such as compression strength, etc., favorable compression strength, and excellent fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads.
  • the expanded beads molded article of the present invention may be formed into one, a voidage of which is adjusted high according to the purpose.
  • the expanded beads of the present invention include a core layer and a cover layer.
  • the melting point (TmB) or softening point (TsB) of the olefin-based resin (b) constituting the cover layer is lower than the melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a) constituting the core layer.
  • TmB melting point
  • TsB softening point
  • the olefin-based resin (b) works as an adhesive for fusion bonding the expanded beads to each other, and therefore, an expanded beads molded article which is excellent in fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads even in the case of performing in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of the heating medium may be obtained.
  • the core layer includes as main components at least two propylene-based resins (a1 and a2) having a different melting point from each other, and of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2), the low melting point resin (a1) is included in a larger content than the high melting point resin (a2) within a specified range. Accordingly, it may be considered that even in the expanded beads including the resin (a2) with high mechanical strength, the secondary expandability of the expanded beads at the time of in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of the heating medium may be ensured.
  • the expanded beads constituted of the propylene-based resin composition (a) including the resin (a2) with high mechanical strength in the core layer have favorable secondary expandability even in the case of performing the in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of the heating medium. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the expanded beads are excellent in secondary expandability, the fusion bonding among the expanded beads constituting the expanded beads molded article becomes firmer.
  • the conventional expanded beads including a core layer and a cover layer do not have a core layer constituted of a composition including the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) in specified ranges as in the present invention, and therefore, there is involved such a problem that the secondary expandability of expanded beads in in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of the heating medium is insufficient as described above.
  • the expanded beads of the present invention are a tube-shaped expanded bead, even in the case where a mold shape is complicated, the heating medium sufficiently sneaks even in a detail part among the expanded beads filled within the mold at the time of in-mold molding. Accordingly, it becomes possible to achieve uniform heating of the filled expanded beads, and as a result, it becomes possible to perform in-mold molding under a condition at a lower pressure of the heating medium.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic view expressing an example of an expanded propylene resin bead of the present invention, which includes a core layer being in a foamed state, having a tubular shape, and being constituted of a propylene-based resin composition and a cover layer covering the core layer and being constituted of an olefin-based resin is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 shows an expanded bead 2 including a tube-shaped core layer 3 having a penetrating tubular hole 4 and a cover layer 5 that covers the cylindrical side face of the core layer 3 .
  • FIGS. 2A to 2H and FIGS. 3A to 3D show cross-sectional views of various modes ( 3 a to 3 m ) of the core layer 3 being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape in the present invention.
  • three and six limb-like parts e extend, respectively from a round skeleton.
  • three and six limb-like parts e extend, respectively from a triangular skeleton.
  • the expanded bead 2 may include, for example, an interlayer between the core layer 3 and the cover layer 5 ; however, it is preferred to adjust a thickness of the cover layer 5 thin for the reasons as described later, and hence, it is preferred that the expanded bead 2 includes simply the core layer 3 and the cover layer 5 .
  • the cover layer 5 that covers the core layer 3 may not cover the entirety of the periphery of the core layer 3 , or for example, the cover layer 5 may cover the core layer 3 in a striped pattern.
  • the core layer 3 refers to one having a tubular shape
  • the tubular shape refers to one having the penetrating tubular hole 4 .
  • examples thereof include a cylindrical shape, an elliptically cylindrical shape, a rectangular cylindrical shape, and a conjugate shape of tubes having a cross-sectional shape as exemplified in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2H , respectively; and those in which the one or plural limb-like parts e are provided on the periphery of the tube having a cross-sectional shape as exemplified in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D , respectively.
  • a maximum outer diameter D in the cross section of the core layer in the perpendicular direction to the axial direction (tube axis direction) through which the tubular hole 4 of the core layer 3 penetrates is 3 to 12 mm; a minimum hole diameter d MIN in the cross section of the core layer in the perpendicular direction to the axial direction (tube axis direction) through which the tubular hole 4 penetrates is 1 to 6 mm; and a length of the core layer in the axial direction (tube axis direction) through which the tubular hole 4 penetrates is 2 to 20 mm.
  • the tubular shape of the core layer 3 is not limited to the cross-sectional shapes shown in FIG.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the tube-shaped core layer encompasses an amorphous shape.
  • the core layer being in a foamed state and having a tubular shape satisfies the following formulae (1) and (2).
  • d MIN ⁇ 1.0 (mm) (1)
  • d MIN /D MIN ⁇ 0.80 (2)
  • d MIN is a minimum hole diameter (mm) in the cross section of the core layer in the perpendicular direction to the axial direction through which the tube-shaped tubular hole penetrates
  • D MIN is a minimum outer diameter (mm) of the core layer in a position of the cross-section of the core layer, at which the hole diameter is d MIN .hole
  • D MIN and d MIN are described by reference to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C .
  • FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C each show a schematic view expressing an example of the core layer 3 ( 3 n , 3 p , and 3 q ) and the tube-shaped tubular hole ( 4 n , 4 p , and 4 q ) which the core layer 3 has.
  • FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are each a schematic view of a tubular shape in which only the core layer 3 and the tubular hole 4 of the expanded bead 2 in FIG. 1 are extracted.
  • the outer diameter of the core layer 3 and the hole diameter of the tubular hole 4 do not change, respectively and are a fixed diameter, and the minimum outer diameter of the core layer 3 is D MIN , and the minimum diameter of the tubular hole 4 is d MIN .
  • the diameter expressed merely as D means the maximum diameter of the core layer 3 .
  • the minimum outer diameter D MIN is equal to the maximum outer diameter D, and therefore, it is expressed as “D MIN (D)”.
  • the outer diameter of the core layer 3 and the hole diameter of the tubular hole 4 change in the axial direction through which the tubular hole penetrates, and the outer diameter of the core layer 3 and the hole diameter of the tubular hole 4 become minimum on a broken line connected by X to Y.
  • the hole diameter at which this hole diameter becomes minimum in other words, “the minimum hole diameter in the cross section of the core layer that is the perpendicular direction to the axial direction through which the tube-shaped tubular hole penetrates”, is “d MIN ”.
  • the “position of the cross section of the core layer where the hole diameter is d MIN ” is a position where in FIG. 4C , the broken line connected by X to Y is drawn, and the outer diameter of the core layer 3 in such a position is “D MIN ” that is the “minimum outer diameter of the core layer”.
  • the d MIN is preferably 1.0 mm or more [see the formula (1)], more preferably 1.5 mm or more, and still more preferably 2.0 mm or more.
  • the d MIN /D MIN is preferably 0.80 or less [see the formula (2)], and more preferably 0.70 or less.
  • the d MIN and the D MIN may be determined by measuring the minimum hole diameter and the minimum outer diameter in the cross section to be measured of the expanded bead having a tubular shape, that is subject to the measurement, by using calipers or the like.
  • the core layer includes the propylene-based resin composition (a) and is formed in a foamed state.
  • the foamed state as referred to herein refers to the matter that the core layer has a cell structure. Specifically, the foamed state means a cell structure that sufficiently contributes to lightness in weight such that the expanded beads have a general apparent density as described later. Whether or not the core layer is in a foamed state may be confirmed by a cross-sectional photograph of the expanded beads.
  • the cover layer that covers the core layer may be either in a foamed state or not in a foamed state, it is preferably in a non-foamed state.
  • the non-foamed state includes not only the state where cells do not exist in the cover layer at all (also including the state where once formed cells are melt fractured, and the cells vanish) but also a substantially non-foamed state where extremely fine cells are present in a slight amount.
  • the propylene-based resin composition (a) (i) it is constituted of 75% by weight to 98% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a1) having a melting point of 100° C. to 140° C. and 2% by weight to 25% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a2) having a melting point of 140° C.
  • a sum total weight of the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2) is 100% by weight; and (ii) a difference in melting point between the propylene-based resin (a2) and the propylene-based resin (a1), each constituting the propylene-based resin composition (a) [(melting point of a2) ⁇ (melting point of a1)] is 15° C. or more.
  • the propylene-based resin composition (a) includes at least the low melting point resin (a1) and the high melting point resin (a2); and the content of the resin (a1) is 75% by weight to 98% by weight, and the content of the resin (a2) is 2% by weight to 25% by weight in 100% by weight of the sum total weight of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2).
  • a melting point Tm a1 of the resin (a1) is in a relation of (100° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.)
  • a melting point Tm a2 of the resin (a2) is in a relation of (140° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 165° C.)
  • a difference in melting point therebetween ( ⁇ Tm a2-1 ) is in a relation of (15° C. ⁇ Tm a2-1 ).
  • the content of resin (a1) on the low melting point side is 75% by weight to 98% by weight in 100% by weight of the sum total weight of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2)
  • the secondary expandability of the expanded beads at the time of in-mold molding under a condition of a low pressure of the heating medium is enhanced.
  • this effect for enhancing the secondary expandability is related to the presence of the specified cover layer, too, and the fusion bonding properties of the expanded beads become much more favorable.
  • the resulting expanded beads molded article exhibits sufficient mechanical strength and is excellent in fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads.
  • the content of the resin (a1) is preferably 80% by weight to 98% by weight, more preferably 85% by weight to 98% by weight, and especially preferably more than 90% by weight and 98% by weight or less.
  • the content of the resin (a2) is preferably 2% by weight to 20% by weight, more preferably 2% by weight to 15% by weight, and especially preferably 2% by weight or more and less than 10% by weight.
  • the propylene-based resin as referred to in the present specification refers to a resin including a propylene-derived constituent unit as a main constituent unit.
  • the main constituent unit as referred to herein means a constituent unit whose content in the resin is more than 50% by weight, and preferably, it means a constituent unit of more than 80% by weight.
  • the propylene-based resin composition as referred to in the present specification refers to a resin made of, as a main component, a resin made of the propylene-based resin (a1) and the propylene-based resin (a2).
  • the main component as referred to herein means that its content in the resin composition is more than 50% by weight, and preferably more than 80% by weight.
  • the melting point Tm a1 of the low melting point resin (a1) is in a relation of (100° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.).
  • effects such as an enhancement in secondary expandability of the expanded beads, etc., are obtained.
  • the Tm a1 is preferably (110° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.), more preferably (120° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.), still more preferably (125° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.), and especially preferably (130° C. ⁇ Tm a1 ⁇ 140° C.).
  • the melting point Tm a2 of the high melting point resin (a2) is (140° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 165° C.).
  • the Tm a2 is preferably (145° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 165° C.), more preferably (145° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 165° C.), still more preferably (150° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 165° C.), and especially preferably (150° C. ⁇ Tm a2 ⁇ 160° C.).
  • the difference between the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a2) and the melting point of the propylene-based resin (a1) [Tm a2 ⁇ Tm a1 ] ( ⁇ Tm a2-1 ) is 15° C. or more.
  • the ⁇ Tm a2-1 is preferably 15° C. to 30° C., more preferably 15° C. to 25° C., and especially preferably 15° C. to 23° C.
  • the melting point of the resin is a value as measured under a condition at a heating rate of 10° C./min by the method described in “the case of measuring a fusion temperature after performing a certain heat treatment” in accordance with JIS K7121 (1987) by a heat flux differential scanning calorimetry (heat flux DSC) apparatus.
  • heat flux DSC heat flux differential scanning calorimetry
  • the softening point of the resin is measured on the basis of the A50 method of JIS K7206 (1999) by using a Vicat softening tester, TM4123, etc., manufactured by Ueshima Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
  • MFR of the resin (a1) is preferably 1 g/10 min to 100 g/10 min, more preferably 2 g/10 min to 50 g/10 min, and still more preferably 3 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min.
  • MFR of the resin (a2) is preferably 0.1 g/10 min to 50 g/10 min, more preferably 0.2 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min, and still more preferably 2 g/10 min to 18 g/10 min.
  • the MFR of each of the propylene-based resin and the propylene-based resin composition is a value as measured under the test condition M (temperature: 230° C., load: 2.16 kg) in accordance with JIS K7210 (1999).
  • the MFR of the ethylene-based resin is a value as measured under the test condition D (temperature: 190° C., load: 2.16 kg) in accordance with JIS K7210 (1999).
  • each of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) may be either a propylene homopolymer or a propylene-based copolymer including a propylene-derived constituent unit and other constituent unit.
  • the propylene-based copolymer contains the propylene-derived constituent unit in the content of preferably 75% by weight or more, and more preferably 90% by weight or more in the copolymer.
  • the melting point of the resin is controlled by selection of the catalyst species in synthesis of the resin, selection of the copolymer component, adjustment of the content of the copolymer component, adjustment of a degree of crystallization, and so on; however, the selection of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) may be made by reference to melting points described in brochures of propylene-based resins marketed by raw material manufacturers, or the like.
  • the resin (a1) may be easily selected from a propylene-based copolymer obtained by a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst.
  • the propylene-based copolymer is preferably a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • the copolymer of propylene and ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms means a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, a copolymer of propylene and an ⁇ -olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atom, or a copolymer of propylene, ethylene, and an ⁇ -olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • a copolymer of propylene and at least one comonomer selected from ethylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-butene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, and the like is exemplified.
  • the aforementioned propylene-based copolymer may also be a binary copolymer, such as a propylene-ethylene random copolymer, a propylene-1-butene random copolymer, etc., or a ternary copolymer, such as a propylene-ethylene-butene random terpolymer, etc.
  • a total content of the comonomer components is preferably 25% by weight or less, and more preferably 10% by weight or less in the propylene-based copolymer.
  • the resin (a1) is preferably a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene or/and 1-butene.
  • preferred specific examples of the resin (a1) include a propylene-ethylene random copolymer, a propylene-1-butene random copolymer, a propylene-ethylene-1-butene random terpolymer, and the like.
  • a total content of the comonomer components in the resin (a1) is selected within the range of preferably from 0.3% by weight to 10% by weight, and especially preferably from 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.
  • the resin (a1) a propylene-ethylene random copolymer, a propylene-1-butene random copolymer, and a propylene-ethylene-1-butene random copolymer, each of which is, for example, obtained through copolymerization of propylene and a comonomer using a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst, are especially preferred from the viewpoint of obtaining the resin with a low melting point without greatly lowering the mechanical physical properties.
  • the resin (a1) which is obtained using a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst is especially preferred from the viewpoints that it is excellent in compatibility with the resin (a2) and that the lowering in mechanical physical properties of the resin composition (a) is suppressed.
  • the resin (a2) may be easily selected among general-purpose propylene-based resins. Examples thereof include a propylene homopolymer and a block copolymer of propylene and ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, and a total content of the comonomer components is preferably 0.3% by weight to 10% by weight, and more preferably 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.
  • the resin (a2) is preferably a propylene-based copolymer, and more preferably a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene or/and 1-butene from the standpoints that it is excellent in compatibility with the resin (a1) and that enhancements of mechanical physical properties and secondary expandability of the resulting expanded beads may be expected.
  • Each of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) is preferably a non-crosslinked propylene-based resin from the viewpoints of recyclability, productivity of the expanded beads, and so on.
  • the polymerization catalyst which is used in polymerizing the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) various organometallic complexes having a performance as the polymerization catalyst may be used.
  • a Ziegler-Natta-based polymerization catalyst In general, a Ziegler-Natta-based polymerization catalyst, a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst, and the like are used.
  • the Ziegler-Natta-based polymerization catalyst is an organometallic complex containing titanium, aluminum, magnesium, or the like as a nuclear element, which is partially or wholly modified with an alkyl group.
  • the metallocene-based polymerization catalyst (also called a homogenous catalyst) is an organometallic complex elemental material containing a transition metal, such as zirconium, titanium, thorium, ruthenium, lanthanum, iron, etc., or boron as a nuclear element, which is modified with a cyclopentane ring or the like.
  • a transition metal such as zirconium, titanium, thorium, ruthenium, lanthanum, iron, etc., or boron as a nuclear element, which is modified with a cyclopentane ring or the like.
  • the polymerization catalyst a combination of the aforementioned organometallic complex and a methyl alumoxane, etc., or the like may also be used.
  • the polymerization catalyst is preferably a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst, and a propylene-based resin obtained through polymerization of the resin (a1) or the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst is preferred.
  • the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) are each a propylene-based copolymer
  • the resin (a1) is a propylene-based random copolymer obtained through polymerization in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst
  • the resin (a2) is a propylene-based copolymer.
  • the resin (a2) may be a polymer obtained using a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst or may be a polymer obtained using a polymerization catalyst other than a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst.
  • a flexural modulus of the resin composition (a) is preferably 900 MPa to 1,200 MPa, and more preferably 910 MPa to 1,100 MPa. So far as the flexural modulus of the resin composition (a) falls within the foregoing range, the strength of the expanded beads molded article obtained by molding the expanded beads may be increased.
  • the flexural modulus of the resin composition (a) may be determined upon preparation of a test piece (test piece dimensions: 80 mm in length, 10 mm in width, 4 mm in thickness) by means of injection molding in accordance with JIS K7171 (2008).
  • the resin composition (a) constituting the core layer of the expanded beads of the present invention may further contain other resin components, additives, and the like within a range where the effects of the present invention are achieved.
  • the core layer constituted of the propylene-based resin composition (a) is not limited to one made of only the propylene-based resin.
  • Examples of other resin components include ethylene-based resins, such as high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, linear very low density polyethylene, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, etc.; styrene-based resins, such as polystyrene, a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, etc.; rubbers, such as an ethylene-propylene rubber, an ethylene-1-butene rubber, a propylene-1-butene rubber, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, an isoprene rubber, a neoprene rubber, a nitrile rubber, etc.; thermoplastic elastomers, such as a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-st
  • resins, rubbers, or elastomers may also be used in combination of two or more thereof.
  • a sum total of other resin components is adjusted to the content of preferably approximately 20 parts by weight or less, more preferably 15 parts by weight or less, and especially preferably 10 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of a sum total weight of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2).
  • the additive examples include various additives, such as a cell adjusting agent, e.g., zinc borate, etc., an antistatic agent, an electrical conductivity imparting agent, a lubricant, an antioxidant, a UV absorbing agent, a flame retardant, a metal-deactivator, a pigment, a dye, a crystal nucleus agent, an inorganic filler, etc. These may be contained in the resin composition (a), if desired. Although the content of the additive strictly varies with its addition purpose, it is approximately preferably 1 to 25 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 15 parts by weight, and especially preferably 3 to 15 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a sum total weight of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2).
  • a cell adjusting agent e.g., zinc borate, etc.
  • an antistatic agent e.g., an antistatic agent
  • an electrical conductivity imparting agent e.g., an electrical conductivity imparting agent
  • a lubricant e.
  • the addition of the flame retardant is important.
  • the addition of the flame retardant brings worsening of the in-mold moldability of the expanded beads and disturbs especially the in-mold molding under a condition at a low pressure of a heating medium, an aspect of which is mentioned as the effect of the present invention.
  • the flame retardant in the present invention it is preferred that the resin composition (a) is at least blended with the following flame retardant. Similar to the resin composition (a), the olefin-based resin (b) may be blended with the following flame retardant or the like, too.
  • examples of the flame retardant which is suitably blended in the present invention include a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant made of a derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A, such as bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether)tetrabromobisphenol A, etc.; a brominated bisphenol S-based flame retardant made of a derivative of tetrabromobisphenol S, such as bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether)tetrabromobisphenol S, etc.; tri(2,3-dibromopropyl)isocyanurate; 2,4,6-tribromophenol allyl ether; brominated polyphenyl ether; a brominated butadiene-styrene block copolymer; and the like.
  • a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant made of a derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A, such as bis(2,3-dibromopropy
  • the resin composition (a) may be further blended with an inorganic flame retardant, such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium aluminate, antimony trioxide, expandable graphite, red phosphorus, etc., if desired.
  • an inorganic flame retardant such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium aluminate, antimony trioxide, expandable graphite, red phosphorus, etc.
  • the aforementioned flame retardant may be used either alone or in admixture of two or more thereof.
  • a black pigment such as carbon black, etc.
  • the flame retardancy of the expanded beads and the expanded beads molded article are insufficient.
  • a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant when at least one flame retardant selected from a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant, a brominated bisphenol S-based flame retardant, a brominated butadiene-styrene block copolymer flame retardant, and a brominated polyphenyl ether flame retardant (inclusive of a composite flame retardant in which other flame retardant than a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant, a brominated bisphenol S-based flame retardant, a brominated butadiene-styrene block copolymer flame retardant, and a brominated polyphenyl ether flame retardant is compounded) is blended in the resin composition (a), sufficient flame retardancy may be revealed.
  • a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant when at least one flame retardant selected from a brominated bisphenol A-based flame retardant, a brominated bisphenol S-based flame retardant, a brominated buta
  • the resin composition (a) may be, for example, obtained by charging a kneading machine with the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) as well as other resin components and additives which may be contained, if desired, followed by mixing.
  • the mixing such that the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) are thoroughly homogeneously mixed.
  • knead the resins with an extruder by adopting a molding method in a starvation mode as described in, for example, JP 2006-69143 A.
  • the kneaded material is laminated and combined with a molten material of the resin (b) as described later within a coextrusion die and coextruded in a string-like form having a tubular shape from nozzles of the die, and the resultant is cut in a proper length, followed by granulation into resin beads having a suitable size while taking into consideration the size of the finally obtained expanded beads.
  • the cover layer is a layer that covers the core layer and is constituted of the olefin-based resin (b).
  • the olefin-based resin (b) satisfies the following (iii) or (iv).
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is crystalline or non-crystalline.
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a crystalline olefin-based resin
  • the olefin-based resin (b) has a melting point (TmB) that is lower than a melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the melting point (TmB) [TmA ⁇ TmB] ( ⁇ Tm A-B ) being more than 0° C. and 80° C. or less.
  • the olefin-based resin (b) is a non-crystalline olefin-based resin
  • the olefin-based resin (b) has a softening point (TsB) that is lower than the melting point (TmA) of the propylene-based resin composition (a), with a difference between the melting point (TmA) and the softening point (TsB) [TmA ⁇ TsB] ( ⁇ T mA-sB ) being more than 0° C. and 100° C. or less.
  • the softening point (TsB) or melting point (TmB) of the resin (b) is lower than the melting point (TmA) of the resin composition (a), and hence, when performing in-mold molding using the expanded beads, the resin (b) is excellent in fusion bonding properties of the expanded beads.
  • the resin (b) is a crystalline olefin-based resin
  • the resin (b) is excellent in fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads.
  • the ⁇ Tm A-B is in a relation of preferably (5° C. ⁇ Tm A-B ⁇ 60° C.), more preferably (7° C. ⁇ Tm A-B ⁇ 50° C.), and especially preferably (10° C. ⁇ Tm A-B ⁇ 40° C.).
  • the resin (b) is a non-crystalline olefin-based resin
  • the resin (b) is excellent in fusion bonding properties of the expanded beads.
  • the ⁇ T mA-sB is in a relation of preferably (10° C. ⁇ T mA-sB ⁇ 80° C.), more preferably (15° C. ⁇ T mA-sB ⁇ 75° C.), and especially preferably (20° C. ⁇ T mA-sB ⁇ 70° C.).
  • the olefin-based resin (b) as referred to in the present invention refers to a resin including a constituent unit derived from ethylene and/or a constituent unit derived from an ⁇ -olefin, such as propylene, 1-butene, etc., as a main constituent unit.
  • the main constituent unit as referred to herein means a constituent unit whose content in the resin is more than 50% by weight, and preferably, it means a constituent unit of more than 80% by weight.
  • Examples thereof include (b1) a homopolymer of ethylene or an ⁇ -olefin, (b2) a copolymer of two or more monomer components selected from ethylene and an ⁇ -olefin, (b3) a copolymer made of ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin and other monomer component, such as styrene, etc., and the like.
  • the copolymer may be either a random copolymer or a block copolymer.
  • a total content of constituent units derived from ethylene and an ⁇ -olefin in the copolymer is preferably 70% by weight or more, and more preferably 80% by weight or more.
  • Whether the resin (b) is crystalline or non-crystalline may be confirmed from a DSC curve obtained by using the resin (b) as a sample and performing the heat flux differential scanning calorimetry.
  • a DSC curve obtained by using the resin (b) as a sample and performing the heat flux differential scanning calorimetry.
  • Examples of the homopolymer (b1) of ethylene or an ⁇ -olefin include an ethylene resin, a propylene resin, and the like.
  • Examples of the copolymer (b2) of two or more components selected from ethylene and an ⁇ -olefin include a propylene-ethylene copolymer, a propylene-1-butene copolymer, a propylene-ethylene-1-butene copolymer, an ethylene-1-pentene copolymer, an ethylene-1-hexene copolymer, an ethylene-4-methyl-1-pentene copolymer, and the like.
  • Examples of the copolymer (b3) including ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin and other monomer component, such as styrene, etc. include an ethylene-styrene copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and the like.
  • the constituent unit derived from ethylene or/and an ⁇ -olefin is preferably an ethylene-derived constituent unit or/and a propylene-derived constituent unit.
  • the resin (b) may be polymerized by using a variety of polymerization catalysts.
  • the polymerization catalyst include the Ziegler-Natta-based polymerization catalyst and the metallocene-based polymerization catalyst, each of which may be used for the synthesis of the resin (a1) and the resin (a2), and the like.
  • the metallocene-based polymerization catalyst is preferred from the viewpoint of the fact that a low melting point or low softening point olefin-based resin with excellent fusion bonding properties is obtained.
  • the resin (b) is especially preferably a propylene-based resin obtained through polymerization in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst from the viewpoints of fusion bonding properties and mechanical strength of the expanded beads.
  • the resin (b) is most preferably an ethylene-based resin obtained through polymerization in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst from the viewpoint of fusion bonding properties of the expanded beads.
  • the propylene-based resin as referred to in the resin (b) means the (co)polymers (b1) to (b3) including a propylene-derived constituent unit as a main constituent unit.
  • the copolymer (b2) is preferred, and a propylene-ethylene copolymer is more preferred.
  • the ethylene-based resin as referred to in the resin (b) means the (co)polymers (b1) to (b3) including an ethylene-derived constituent unit as a main constituent unit.
  • the copolymer (b2) is preferred, and linear low density polyethylene and linear very low density polyethylene are more preferred.
  • the resin (b) constituting the cover layer of the expanded beads of the present invention may further contain other resin components, additives, and the like as explained as components which the resin composition (a) may include so far as the effects of the present invention are achieved.
  • the cover layer constituted of the resin (b) is not limited to one made of only the resin (b).
  • the content of other resin components in the cover layer is adjusted to preferably approximately 20 parts by weight or less, more preferably 15 parts by weight or less, and especially preferably 10 parts by weight or less in total based on 100 parts by weight of the resin (b).
  • the content of the additive in the cover layer varies with its addition purpose, it is adjusted to preferably 25 parts by weight or less, more preferably 20 parts by weight or less, still more preferably 15 parts by weight or less, and especially preferably 8 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the resin (b).
  • a thickness of the cover layer is preferably 1 ⁇ m to 50 ⁇ m, more preferably 2 ⁇ m to 20 ⁇ m, and especially preferably 3 ⁇ m to 10 ⁇ m from the viewpoints of fusion bonding properties at the time of in-mold molding and mechanical physical properties of the resulting expanded beads molded article.
  • the expanded beads may be produced by producing multi-layered resin beads including a core layer having a tubular shape and a cover layer even in resin beads for the purpose of obtaining expanded beads and expanding the core layer in the resulting multi-layered resin beads.
  • the expansion of the cover layer may be suppressed in an expansion step of the multi-layered resin beads.
  • the aforementioned multi-layered resin beads may be produced by a known method.
  • the multi-layered resin beads may be obtained through a combination of a production method of resin beads using a die having a nozzle shape the same as the desired cross-sectional shape as in each of the shapes shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the present specification, as described in JP 8-108441 A; and a production method of resin beads having a core layer and a cover layer by a coextrusion method as described in JP 41-16125 B, JP 43-23858 B, JP 44-29522 B, JP 60-185816 A, etc.
  • a core layer-forming extruder and a cover layer-forming extruder are connected with a coextrusion die; the required resins and optionally, an additive are melt kneaded by the core layer-forming extruder; and the required resins and optionally, an additive are also melt kneaded by the cover layer-forming extruder.
  • the respective melt kneaded materials are combined within the aforementioned die installed in a tip of the extruders, to form a multi-layered structure composed of a core layer and a cover layer covering the outer surface of the core layer, and the resultant is coextruded in a strand-like form from the die having nozzles having a desired cross-sectional shape and then cut by a pelletizer such that the weight of the resin beads becomes a predetermined weight, thereby producing multi-layered resin beads having a tubular shape.
  • the shape of the multi-layered resin beads to be used in the present invention is a tubular shape, such as a cylindrical shape, an elliptically cylindrical shape, a rectangular cylindrical shape, and a conjugate shape of tubes.
  • the expanded beads obtained through expansion of such multi-layered resin beads become a shape approximately corresponding to the shape of the resin beads before the expansion.
  • An average weight per one multi-layered resin bead is preferably 0.05 mg to 10.0 mg, and especially preferably 0.1 mg to 5.0 mg.
  • the average weight of the expanded beads may be adjusted by allowing the average weight per one resin bead for the purpose of obtaining the expanded beads to conform to an average weight per one desired expanded bead.
  • the average weight per one expanded bead is preferably 0.05 mg to 10.0 mg, and especially preferably 0.1 mg to 5.0 mg from the viewpoint of in-mold moldability.
  • a weight ratio of the core layer and the cover layer is approximately 99.7/0.3 to 75/25, preferably 98/2 to 80/20, more preferably 97/3 to 85/15, and still more preferably 97/3 to 90/10.
  • the resulting expanded beads are excellent in fusion bonding properties at the time of in-mold molding, and the mechanical physical properties of the resulting expanded beads molded article become especially favorable.
  • the thickness of the cover layer of the multi-layered resin beads of the present invention is preferably thinner from the viewpoint that when the multi-layered resin beads are expanded, cells may be made to be hardly produced in the cover layer, so that the mechanical physical properties of the finally obtained expanded beads molded article are enhanced. Meanwhile, it is preferred to take into consideration a lower limit of the thickness from the viewpoint of an improving effect of fusion bonding properties of the resulting expanded beads.
  • the thickness of the cover layer of the multi-layered resin beads is preferably 1 ⁇ m to 50 ⁇ m, more preferably 2 ⁇ m to 20 ⁇ m, and especially preferably 3 ⁇ m to 10 ⁇ m.
  • the thickness of the cover layer of the aforementioned multi-layered resin beads is measured in the following manner.
  • the multi-layered resin bead is divided into two equal parts so as to obtain a cross section, the entirety of which is surrounded by the cover layer, and an enlarged photograph is taken under observation with a microscope such that the entirety of the cross section is fitted thereinto.
  • a straight line is drawn on the photograph such that the cross section is divided into two substantially equal parts; and a straight line that intersects at right angles with the foregoing straight line and goes through a center of the resin bead is drawn.
  • a length of each of four portions of the cover layer through which these straight lines go is determined; and an arithmetic mean thereof is defined as the thickness of the cover layer of one multi-layered resin bead.
  • Those operations are performed on ten multi-layered resin beads as extracted at random, and a value obtained by performing the arithmetic mean of the thickness of the cover layer of the ten multi-layered resin beads is defined as the thickness of the cover layer of the multi-layered resin beads in the present specification.
  • the thickness of the cover layer part of the expanded bead is also measured by the same method.
  • the thickness of the cover layer may be measured through production of the multi-layered resin beads by previously adding a coloring agent to the resin constituting the cover layer.
  • the expanded beads of the present invention is produced by dispersing the aforementioned multi-layered resin beads including a core layer and a cover layer in an aqueous medium (generally water) in a pressurizable closed vessel (for example, an autoclave); adding a dispersant to the aqueous medium; putting a prescribed amount of a blowing agent into the closed vessel under pressure; stirring the contents at a high temperature under a high pressure to impregnate the resin beads with the blowing agent; and releasing the resulting contents together with the aqueous medium from the inside of the pressurized vessel into a low-pressure zone (generally under atmospheric pressure) that is lower than an inside pressure of the vessel, thereby performing the expansion (this method will be hereinafter referred to as “dispersing medium releasing expansion method”).
  • aqueous medium generally water
  • a pressurizable closed vessel for example, an autoclave
  • the method of obtaining the expanded beads of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned method of expanding the multi-layered resin beads, and for example, there may be considered a method of expanding the resin beads made of, as a base material, the resin composition (a) constituting the core layer by the dispersing medium releasing expansion method to produce expanded beads and covering a resin powder made of the resin (b) on the resulting expanded beads, and so on.
  • the expanded beads obtained by the aforementioned method are aged under atmospheric pressure in a generally adopted manner, the expanded beads are then stored in a pressurizable closed vessel, and a gas, such as air, etc., is put into the vessel under pressure to perform a pressurizing treatment, thereby performing an operation of increasing an internal pressure of the expanded beads. Thereafter, the expanded beads are discharged from the inside of the vessel and again expanded upon heating with a heating medium, such as steam, hot air, etc., whereby the expanded beads with a high expansion ratio may be obtained (this method will be hereinafter referred to as “two-stage expansion method”).
  • a heating medium such as steam, hot air, etc.
  • the blowing agent is preferably a physical blowing agent.
  • the physical blowing agent is not particularly limited, for example, organic physical blowing agents, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g., n-butane, isobutane, and a mixture thereof, n-pentane, isopentane, n-hexane, etc., and halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g., ethyl chloride, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, etc.; and inorganic physical blowing agents, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air, water, etc., may be used solely or in admixture of two or more thereof.
  • a blowing agent containing, as a main component, an inorganic physical blowing agent such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air, etc.
  • carbon dioxide is more preferably used.
  • the terms “containing, as a main component, an inorganic physical blowing agent” as referred to herein mean that the inorganic physical blowing agent is contained in the content of 50 mol % or more, preferably 70 mol % or more, and more preferably 90 mol % or more based on 100 mol % of the whole of the physical blowing agent.
  • n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, or isopentane is preferred to use as the organic physical blowing agent from the viewpoints of compatibility with the olefin-based resin and expandability.
  • the addition amount of the aforementioned physical blowing agent is properly selected according to the kind of the propylene-based resin, the kind of the blowing agent, the apparent density of the desired expanded beads, and so on and cannot be unequivocally limited.
  • the carbon dioxide is used in an amount of 0.1 parts by weight to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 parts by weight to 15 parts by weight, and more preferably 1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the propylene-based resin.
  • dispersant examples include inorganic materials which are sparingly soluble in water, such as aluminum oxide, calcium tertiary phosphate, magnesium pyrophosphate, zinc oxide, kaolin, mica, etc.; water-soluble polymer-based protective colloid agents, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, etc.; and the like.
  • anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, a sodium alkanesulfonate, etc., and the like may also be used.
  • the temperature is increased to an arbitrary temperature (Ta) within a range of a temperature that is lower by 20° C. than the melting point (Tm) of the resin composition (a) (Tm ⁇ 20° C.) or higher and lower than a melt completion temperature (Te) of the resin composition (a); that temperature (Ta) is held for a sufficient time, preferably about 10 minutes to 60 minutes; thereafter, the resultant is heated to an arbitrary temperature (Tb) within a range of from a temperature that is lower by 15° C.
  • the multi-layered resin beads are released from the inside of the closed vessel under a low pressure to achieve the expansion.
  • the heating rate in the aforementioned expansion step of 0.5° C./min to 5° C./min is usually adopted.
  • the above-explained temperature adjustment range at the time of expanding the resin beads is an appropriate temperature range in the case of using the inorganic physical blowing agent as the blowing agent.
  • each of the appropriate temperature ranges tends to be shifted to the lower temperature side than the aforementioned temperature range depending on the kind or use amount thereof due to a plasticizing effect of the organic physical blowing agent against the base resin.
  • the expanded beads of the present invention obtained by the aforementioned method has a structure in which a core layer being in a foamed state and having a large number of cells and a cover layer on the surface thereof are formed.
  • An apparent density of the whole of the expanded beads of the foregoing structure is usually in the range of from 15 g/L to 300 g/L, and it is preferably 20 g/L to 150 g/L, more preferably 25 g/L to 120 g/L, and especially preferably 30 g/L to 100 g/L from the standpoint of physical properties of the resulting expanded beads molded article, and so on.
  • the apparent density of the expanded beads is measured in the following manner.
  • the apparent density is determined by sinking a group of expanded beads having a weight W (g) within a graduated cylinder having water charged therein by using a wire net or the like, determining a volume V (L) of the group of expanded beads from an increase of a water level, and dividing the weight of the group of expanded beads by the volume of the group of expanded beads (W/V).
  • An average cell diameter of the expanded beads of the present invention is preferably 50 ⁇ m to 900 ⁇ m from the viewpoints of dimensional stability at the time of in-mold molding, mold pattern transferability, and so on.
  • the lower limit of the average cell diameter is more preferably 80 ⁇ m, and especially preferably 100 ⁇ m from the viewpoints of dimensional stability of the resulting expanded molded article and so on.
  • the upper limit thereof is more preferably 500 ⁇ m, still more preferably 300 ⁇ m, and especially preferably 250 ⁇ m from the viewpoints of an appearance of the resulting expanded molded article and so on.
  • the average cell diameter of the expanded beads is measured in the following manner. First, a photograph is taken by dividing the expanded bead into two equal parts to obtain a cross section and enlarging the cross section under observation with a microscope such that the entirety of the cross section is fitted thereinto. A straight line is drawn on the taken photograph such that the cross section is divided into two substantially equal parts; and a value obtained by dividing a length of a line segment from the periphery of the expanded bead to the opposite periphery thereof by a number of all cells intersecting with the line segment is defined as the average cell diameter of one expanded bead. Those operations are performed on twenty expanded beads as extracted at random, and a value obtained by performing the arithmetic mean of the average cell diameters of the twenty expanded beads is defined as the average cell diameter of the expanded beads in the present specification.
  • the expanded propylene resin beads molded article of the present invention is one resulting from in-mold molding of the expanded propylene resin beads and having interconnected voids.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a state of a surface of the expanded propylene resin beads molded article having interconnected voids of the present invention.
  • an expanded beads molded article 1 having plural expanded beads 12 and interconnected voids 6 is shown.
  • the expanded propylene resin beads molded article having interconnected voids of the present invention has an appearance having the voids 6 as represented by FIG. 5 and is one resulting from in-mold molding of the expanded propylene resin beads of the present invention as described previously.
  • the production method of the expanded beads molded article resulting from in-mold molding of the expanded beads of the present invention may be produced by a known in-mold molding method.
  • the expanded beads molded article may be produced through molding by a cracking molding method in which in order to subject the expanded beads to in-mold molding, a pair of molds for molding is used, the expanded beads are filled in a cavity of the molds under atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure and subjected to mold clamping and compressed such that the volume of the cavity of the molds is reduced by 5% by volume to 50% by volume, and subsequently, a heating medium, such as steam, etc., is fed into the inside of the molds, thereby achieving heat fusion bonding of the expanded beads (for example, JP 46-38359 B).
  • a heating medium such as steam, etc.
  • the expanded beads molded article may also be produced through molding by a pressure molding method in which the expanded beads are pressurized with a pressurized gas, such as air, etc., to increase the pressure within the expanded beads, the expanded beads are filled into the cavity of molds under atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure and subjected to mold clamping, and subsequently, a heating medium, such as steam, etc., is fed into the inside of molds, thereby achieving heat fusion bonding of the expanded beads (for example, JP 51-22951 B) or the like.
  • a pressurized gas such as air, etc.
  • the expanded beads molded article may also be produced through molding by a compression filling molding method in which the expanded beads are filled into the cavity of molds having been pressurized to atmospheric pressure or more with a compressed gas while pressurizing the expanded beads to the foregoing pressure or more, and thereafter, a heating medium, such as steam, etc., is fed into the inside of molds, thereby achieving heat fusion bonding of the expanded beads (for example, JP 4-46217 B).
  • a heating medium such as steam, etc.
  • the expanded beads molded article may also be produced through molding by an ambient pressure filling molding method in which the expanded beads are filled within a cavity of a pair of molds for molding under atmospheric pressure, and subsequently, a heating medium, such as steam, etc., is fed into the molds, thereby achieving heat fusion bonding of the expanded beads (for example, JP 6-49795 B), or a combined method of the aforementioned methods (for example, JP 6-22919 B), or the like.
  • a heating medium such as steam, etc.
  • a density of the expanded beads molded article which is produced through in-mold molding of the expanded beads of the present invention may be arbitrarily set up according to the purpose, it is in the range of typically from 12 g/L to 180 g/L, and preferably from 15 g/L to 75 g/L.
  • the density of the expanded beads molded article is calculated by dividing a weight (g) of a test piece cut out from the molded article by a volume (L) determined from the outside dimensions of the test piece.
  • the voidage of the expanded beads molded article of the present invention is preferably 7 to 50%, more preferably 10 to 45%, and especially preferably 15 to 40%.
  • the expanded beads molded article of the present invention is excellent in fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads, is provided with desired characteristics due to the interconnected voids, such as air permeability, water permeability, sound-absorbing qualities, sound-deadening qualities, vibration-damping properties, etc., and is also excellent in mechanical physical properties.
  • a homopropylene polymer (melting point: 163° C., MFR 20 g/10 min) having been polymerized in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta-based polymerization catalyst was used.
  • a crystalline ethylene-propylene random copolymer (ethylene content: 3.5% by weight, melting point: 125° C., MFR 7 g/10 min) having been polymerized in the presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst was used.
  • the melting point of each of the resin and the resin composition was measured with respect to a sample of 1 to 3 mg by means of heat flux DSC by the method described in “the case of measuring a fusion temperature after performing a certain heat treatment” in accordance with JIS K7121 (1987) by using a DSC measurement apparatus (DSC Q1000), manufactured by TA Instruments. The measurement was performed by heating from ambient temperature to 200° C. at a heating rate of 10° C./min.
  • the apparent density was determined by taking out the expanded beads from a group of expanded beads at random, sinking the expanded beads group having a weight W (g) in water of a 1-liter capacity graduated cylinder having water charged therein by using a wire net, determining a volume V (L) of the expanded beads group from an increase of a water level, and dividing the weight of the expanded beads group by the volume of the expanded beads group (W/V).
  • the measurement was performed with respect to the expanded beads obtained by aging under atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 23° C. and at a relative humidity of 50% for 48 hours.
  • the density of the expanded beads molded article was calculated by dividing a weight (g) of a test piece cut out from the molded article by a volume (L) determined from the outside dimensions of the test piece. The measurement was performed with respect to the expanded beads molded article obtained by aging under atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 23° C. and at a relative humidity of 50% for 48 hours.
  • a core layer resin composition (mixed resin) obtained by a method as described later was measured for the flexural modulus in accordance with JIS K7171 (2008).
  • a tensilon universal tester, RTF-1350, manufactured by A&D Company, Limited was used as a measuring device.
  • a cubic test piece cut out from the expanded beads molded article was sunken in a vessel having an alcohol charged therein, and a true volume Vt (cm 3 ) of the test piece was determined from an increase of a liquid level of the alcohol.
  • an apparent volume Va (cm 3 ) was determined from the outside dimensions (length ⁇ width ⁇ height) of the test piece.
  • the expanded beads molded article was bent and ruptured, and the ruptured cross section was observed.
  • a percentage of a value obtained by dividing a number of ruptured expanded beads present on the ruptured cross section by a number of all of the expanded beads present on the ruptured cross section was defined as a material destruction rate (%) and evaluated according to the following criteria.
  • the material destruction rate of the expanded beads is 70% or more.
  • the material destruction rate of the expanded beads is 30% or more and less than 70%.
  • the material destruction rate of the expanded beads is less than 30%.
  • test piece of 50 mm in length ⁇ 50 mm in width ⁇ 25 mm in thickness was cut out from the expanded beads molded article and subjected to a compression test at a compression rate of 10 mm/min in accordance with JIS K6767 (1999) to determine a 50% compression stress of the expanded beads molded article, and the evaluation was made according to the following criteria.
  • the 50% compression stress of the expanded beads molded article is 300 kPa or more.
  • the 50% compression stress of the expanded beads molded article is 275 kPa or more and less than 300 kPa.
  • the 50% compression stress of the expanded beads molded article is less than 275 kPa.
  • An oxygen index was measured by a test method of polymer material by the oxygen index method described in JIS K7201-2 (2007).
  • the oxygen index was measured with a flame retardancy testing device (ON-1 Type), manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd., and the evaluation was made according to the following criteria.
  • the oxygen index of the expanded beads molded article is 29% by volume or more.
  • the oxygen index of the expanded beads molded article is 27% by volume or more and less than 29% by volume.
  • the oxygen index of the expanded beads molded article is less than 27% by volume
  • the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) were melt kneaded in a mixing ratio shown in Table 1 by using a 65 mm ⁇ single-screw extruder.
  • the melt kneaded material was extruded in a strand-like form from small holes of a nozzle installed in a tip of the extruder, cooled in a water tank, and then cut such that a weight of the strand was approximately 5 mg, followed by drying to obtain beads of a core layer resin composition (mixed resins 1 to 7).
  • a mixed resin shown in the “Core layer” column in Table 2 was fed into the core layer-forming extruder and then melt kneaded.
  • a resin of the kind shown in the “Cover layer” column in Table 2 was fed into the cover layer-forming extruder and then melt kneaded.
  • the respective melt kneaded materials were laminated and combined within the coextrusion die in a proportion in the beads shown in the “Core layer” and “Cover layer” columns in Table 2 and coextruded in a multi-layered strand-like form in which an annular core layer having a penetrating tubular hole and a cover layer covering the outer periphery of the core layer from small holes of a nozzle installed in a tip of the extruder, and subsequently, the strand was cooled with water and then cut in a weight of approximately 1.5 mg by a pelletizer, followed by drying to obtain multi-layered resin beads.
  • a cell adjusting agent, a coloring agent, and a flame retardant were blended as a master batch in the propylene-based resin of the core layer such that the content of zinc borate as the cell adjusting agent was 500 ppm by weight, the content of carbo black as the coloring agent was 2.7% by weight, and the contents of bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether)tetrabromobisphenol A and antimony trioxide as the flame retardant were 5.0% by weight and 2.5% by weight, respectively.
  • expanded propylene resin beads were prepared using the aforementioned multi-layered resin beads.
  • the temperature of the dispersing medium was increased under stirring to a temperature that is lower by 5° C. than the foaming temperature shown in Table 3, followed by holding at that temperature for 15 minutes. Thereafter, the temperature was increased to the foaming temperature shown in Table 3, followed by holding at that temperature for 15 minutes. Thereafter, the contents were released under atmospheric pressure while applying a back pressure of a foaming pressure of 2.8 MPa (G) by carbon dioxide, thereby obtaining approximately annular, black expanded propylene resin beads each having a penetrating tubular hole. Physical properties of the obtained expanded beads are shown in Table 3.
  • the addition amounts (parts by weight) of the blowing agent, the dispersant, and the surfactant are amounts based on 100 parts by weight of the propylene resin beads.
  • a cross section of the expanded propylene resin bead was observed by an optical microscope.
  • the mixed resin of the core layer was in a favorable foamed and expanded state of a closed-cell structure, whereas the olefin-based resin of the cover layer was covered in a non-foamed state the core layer as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • An expanded beads molded article was prepared using the above-obtained expanded propylene resin beads.
  • the expanded beads were filled in a mold for a plank of 500 mm in length ⁇ 300 mm in width ⁇ 100 mm in thickness and subjected to in-mold molding by a compression molding method using steam as a heating medium, thereby obtaining an expanded beads molded article in the form of a plank.
  • the heating method at the time of in-mold molding was performed as follows. Steam was fed for 5 seconds in a state of opening drain valves in the both molds to perform preheating; and one-direction flow heating was performed at a pressure that is lower by 0.04 MPa(G) than the molding pressure shown in Table 3. Furthermore, reversed one-direction flow heating was performed at a pressure that is lower by 0.02 MPa(G) than the molding pressure shown in Table 3, followed by heating with steam at the molding pressure shown in Table 3 [molding vapor pressure: for example, 0.16 MPa(G) in Example 1].
  • An expanded beads molded article was obtained in the same manner as in the aforementioned Example 2, except that the bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether)tetrabromobisphenol A blended in the propylene-based resin of the core layer was changed to tetrabromobisphenol A.
  • Various physical properties of the expanded beads and the expanded beads molded article are shown in Table 3.
  • An expanded beads molded article was obtained in the same manner as in the foregoing Example 2, except that in the production of an expanded propylene resin beads molded article, a mold for a plank of 200 mm in length ⁇ 250 mm in width ⁇ 50 mm in thickness was used, and the molding pressure was changed to 0.13 MPa(G).
  • Various physical properties of the expanded beads and the expanded beads molded article are shown in Table 3.
  • Example 1 150.0 6.0 89 3.6 2.0 0.16 45 30 A A A Example 2 152.0 5.0 90 3.5 2.0 0.14 45 28 A A A A Example 3 151.0 6.5 88 3.4 1.8 0.14 45 30 A B A Example 4 153.5 5.0 91 3.7 2.2 0.16 45 35 A A A Example 5 152.5 6.0 91 3.5 1.9 0.18 45 32 A A A Example 6 152.0 5.0 92 3.6 2.0 0.14 45 33 A A B Example 7 152.0 5.0 87 3.6 2.1 0.13 45 28 A A A A Comparative 154.5 5.0 89 3.6 2.0 0.26 45 29 A A A A Example 1 Comparative 149.5 7.0 86 3.5 1.8 0.14 45 28 A C A Example 2 (*The molding pressure is a gauge pressure.)
  • the expanded beads of the present invention are ones having a tubular shape and are excellent in fusion bonding properties among the expanded beads and are able to reduce a molding pressure by a heating medium at the time of in-mold molding, from which an expanded beads molded article having a large number of communicated holes and exhibiting favorable mechanical physical properties can be obtained.
  • the expanded beads molded article obtained from the foregoing expanded beads not only exhibits inherent physical properties due to interconnected voids but also exhibits favorable mechanical physical properties
  • vehicle members such as a sheet cushioning core material, a sheet back core material, a bumper core material, a floor level raising material, a tibia pad, a door pad, a luggage box, etc.
  • core materials such as a float, a surfboard, a helmet, a unit bath, a bathtub, a water storage tank, a waterproof pan, a chair, etc., a packaging container, a packaging buffer, and so on.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
US15/744,219 2015-07-15 2016-07-13 Propylene resin foamed particle and foamed particle molded body Active US10487188B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2015141333A JP6060220B1 (ja) 2015-07-15 2015-07-15 プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
JP2015-141333 2015-07-15
PCT/JP2016/070624 WO2017010494A1 (ja) 2015-07-15 2016-07-13 プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20180215891A1 US20180215891A1 (en) 2018-08-02
US10487188B2 true US10487188B2 (en) 2019-11-26

Family

ID=57756277

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/744,219 Active US10487188B2 (en) 2015-07-15 2016-07-13 Propylene resin foamed particle and foamed particle molded body

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US10487188B2 (ja)
EP (1) EP3309197B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP6060220B1 (ja)
CN (1) CN107835832B (ja)
TW (1) TWI677523B (ja)
WO (1) WO2017010494A1 (ja)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2021157369A1 (ja) 2020-02-04 2021-08-12 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子、及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
US11904579B2 (en) 2020-03-11 2024-02-20 Jsp Corporation Molded article of polypropylene-based resin foamed particle molded body, polypropylene-based resin foamed particle, and method for producing same

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7326023B2 (ja) * 2019-05-17 2023-08-15 株式会社ジェイエスピー 熱可塑性エラストマー発泡粒子及びその成形体
JP7256387B2 (ja) * 2019-06-27 2023-04-12 株式会社ジェイエスピー 改質発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
JP7189477B1 (ja) 2022-01-26 2022-12-14 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子の製造方法及び発泡粒子成形体の製造方法
WO2022191316A1 (ja) * 2021-03-12 2022-09-15 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子の製造方法及び発泡粒子成形体の製造方法
JP2022167218A (ja) * 2021-04-22 2022-11-04 株式会社ジェイエスピー 多層発泡粒子
JP2024014407A (ja) * 2022-07-22 2024-02-01 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
JP2024018684A (ja) * 2022-07-29 2024-02-08 株式会社ジェイエスピー 熱可塑性樹脂発泡粒子及び熱可塑性樹脂発泡粒子成形体
WO2024075742A1 (ja) * 2022-10-07 2024-04-11 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びその製造方法
CN116102768A (zh) * 2023-03-23 2023-05-12 无锡会通轻质材料股份有限公司 一种管状微孔聚丙烯发泡珠粒及其模塑制件

Citations (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH1077359A (ja) 1996-07-10 1998-03-24 Mitsubishi Chem Basf Co Ltd 発泡樹脂粒子
JP2001162640A (ja) 1999-12-10 2001-06-19 Mitsubishi Kagaku Form Plastic Kk 熱可塑性樹脂発泡成形体の製造方法
JP2004068016A (ja) 2002-07-22 2004-03-04 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子の製造方法及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子
JP2004176047A (ja) 2002-11-13 2004-06-24 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びこれを用いた型内成形体
US20050113473A1 (en) 2002-05-13 2005-05-26 Jsp Corporation Expandable polypropylene resin particle and molded object obtained therefrom by in-mold molding
JP2005139350A (ja) 2003-11-07 2005-06-02 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子およびこれを用いた型内成形体
US20050164000A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2005-07-28 Jsp Corporation Thick foam molding and process for production thereof
WO2006054727A1 (ja) 2004-11-22 2006-05-26 Kaneka Corporation ポリプロピレン系樹脂予備発泡粒子および型内発泡成形体
US20060223897A1 (en) * 2005-03-29 2006-10-05 Jsp Corporation Expanded polypropylene resin beads, method of producing foam molding of expanded polypropylene resin beads and foam molding obtained by the method
WO2009001626A1 (ja) 2007-06-22 2008-12-31 Jsp Corporation ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びその成型体
US20090169895A1 (en) 2007-12-27 2009-07-02 Jsp Corporation Foamed polyolefin resin beads
JP2009221258A (ja) 2008-03-13 2009-10-01 Kaneka Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂予備発泡粒子
WO2010150466A1 (ja) 2009-06-26 2010-12-29 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
JP2011016914A (ja) 2009-07-08 2011-01-27 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子および該発泡粒子からなる発泡粒子成形体
US20110152412A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2011-06-23 Akzo Nobel N.V. Flame retardant polyolefin composition
WO2012081490A1 (ja) 2010-12-15 2012-06-21 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体の製造方法、及びポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
WO2013137411A1 (ja) * 2012-03-14 2013-09-19 株式会社カネカ ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子およびポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子からなる型内発泡成形体、並びに、これらの製造方法
US20150158990A1 (en) 2013-12-11 2015-06-11 Jsp Corporation Polyolefin-based resin expanded beads
WO2015107847A1 (ja) 2014-01-17 2015-07-23 株式会社ジェイエスピー プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
US9230710B2 (en) 2012-03-05 2016-01-05 Jsp Corporation Polypropylene-based resin expanded beads, and polypropylene-based resin expanded beads molded article
WO2016060162A1 (ja) 2014-10-15 2016-04-21 株式会社カネカ ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子、ポリプロピレン系樹脂型内発泡成形体およびその製造方法
WO2016111017A1 (ja) 2015-01-09 2016-07-14 株式会社ジェイエスピー プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体

Patent Citations (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH1077359A (ja) 1996-07-10 1998-03-24 Mitsubishi Chem Basf Co Ltd 発泡樹脂粒子
JP2001162640A (ja) 1999-12-10 2001-06-19 Mitsubishi Kagaku Form Plastic Kk 熱可塑性樹脂発泡成形体の製造方法
US20050113473A1 (en) 2002-05-13 2005-05-26 Jsp Corporation Expandable polypropylene resin particle and molded object obtained therefrom by in-mold molding
US20070208140A1 (en) 2002-05-13 2007-09-06 Toru Wada Polypropylene resin expanded particle and molded article using it
JP2004068016A (ja) 2002-07-22 2004-03-04 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子の製造方法及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子
JP2004176047A (ja) 2002-11-13 2004-06-24 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びこれを用いた型内成形体
JP2005139350A (ja) 2003-11-07 2005-06-02 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子およびこれを用いた型内成形体
US20050164000A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2005-07-28 Jsp Corporation Thick foam molding and process for production thereof
WO2006054727A1 (ja) 2004-11-22 2006-05-26 Kaneka Corporation ポリプロピレン系樹脂予備発泡粒子および型内発泡成形体
US20080039588A1 (en) * 2004-11-22 2008-02-14 Kaneka Corporation Pre-Expanded Particulate Polypropylene-Based Resin and In-Mold Expansion Molded Article
US20060223897A1 (en) * 2005-03-29 2006-10-05 Jsp Corporation Expanded polypropylene resin beads, method of producing foam molding of expanded polypropylene resin beads and foam molding obtained by the method
US20100105787A1 (en) 2007-06-22 2010-04-29 Jsp Corporation Polypropylene resin foam particle and molding thereof
WO2009001626A1 (ja) 2007-06-22 2008-12-31 Jsp Corporation ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びその成型体
US20090169895A1 (en) 2007-12-27 2009-07-02 Jsp Corporation Foamed polyolefin resin beads
JP2009221258A (ja) 2008-03-13 2009-10-01 Kaneka Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂予備発泡粒子
US20110152412A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2011-06-23 Akzo Nobel N.V. Flame retardant polyolefin composition
WO2010150466A1 (ja) 2009-06-26 2010-12-29 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
JP2011016914A (ja) 2009-07-08 2011-01-27 Jsp Corp ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子および該発泡粒子からなる発泡粒子成形体
WO2012081490A1 (ja) 2010-12-15 2012-06-21 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体の製造方法、及びポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
JP2012126816A (ja) 2010-12-15 2012-07-05 Jsp Corp ポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体の製造方法、及びポリオレフィン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
US20130266792A1 (en) * 2010-12-15 2013-10-10 Jsp Corporation Process for producing molded article of expanded polylolefin-based resin beads, and molded article of expanded polylolefin -based resin beads
US9230710B2 (en) 2012-03-05 2016-01-05 Jsp Corporation Polypropylene-based resin expanded beads, and polypropylene-based resin expanded beads molded article
WO2013137411A1 (ja) * 2012-03-14 2013-09-19 株式会社カネカ ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子およびポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子からなる型内発泡成形体、並びに、これらの製造方法
US20150025162A1 (en) * 2012-03-14 2015-01-22 Kaneka Corporation Polypropylene resin foam particles, in-mold foam molded body comprising polypropylene resin foam particles, and method for producing same
US20150158990A1 (en) 2013-12-11 2015-06-11 Jsp Corporation Polyolefin-based resin expanded beads
WO2015107847A1 (ja) 2014-01-17 2015-07-23 株式会社ジェイエスピー プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体
WO2016060162A1 (ja) 2014-10-15 2016-04-21 株式会社カネカ ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子、ポリプロピレン系樹脂型内発泡成形体およびその製造方法
WO2016111017A1 (ja) 2015-01-09 2016-07-14 株式会社ジェイエスピー プロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及び発泡粒子成形体

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Extended European Search Report dated Apr. 5, 2018 to the corresponding European Application No. 16824474.7.
International Search Report for PCT/JP2016/070624 dated Oct. 4, 2016; English translation submitted herewith (5 pages).
Lieberman, R. and Stewart, C. "Propylene Polymers". Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology (2004), vol. 11, pp. 328-325.
Lieberman, R. and Stewart, C. (2004). Propylene Polymers. In Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, (Ed.). doi: 10.1002/0471440264.pst301 pp. 328-335. (Year: 2004). *
United States Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/111,760 dated Mar. 5, 2018.

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2021157369A1 (ja) 2020-02-04 2021-08-12 株式会社ジェイエスピー ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子、及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
KR20220137936A (ko) 2020-02-04 2022-10-12 가부시키가이샤 제이에스피 폴리프로필렌계 수지 발포 입자, 및 폴리프로필렌계 수지 발포 입자 성형체
US11732101B2 (en) 2020-02-04 2023-08-22 Jsp Corporation Polypropylene-based resin expanded beads and polypropylene-based resin expanded beads molded article
US11904579B2 (en) 2020-03-11 2024-02-20 Jsp Corporation Molded article of polypropylene-based resin foamed particle molded body, polypropylene-based resin foamed particle, and method for producing same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017010494A1 (ja) 2017-01-19
JP6060220B1 (ja) 2017-01-11
JP2017019980A (ja) 2017-01-26
EP3309197A1 (en) 2018-04-18
TW201710340A (zh) 2017-03-16
EP3309197A4 (en) 2018-05-02
CN107835832B (zh) 2019-05-14
TWI677523B (zh) 2019-11-21
CN107835832A (zh) 2018-03-23
US20180215891A1 (en) 2018-08-02
EP3309197B1 (en) 2019-05-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10487188B2 (en) Propylene resin foamed particle and foamed particle molded body
US10385178B2 (en) Propylene-based resin foam particle and foam particle molded body
US10336880B2 (en) Propylene resin foam particles and foam particle molded article
JP5717198B2 (ja) ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子及びポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子成形体
US20180186959A1 (en) Polypropylene resin foamed particles, in-mold foam molded body of polypropylene resin, and method for manufacturing same
WO2018088390A1 (ja) 発泡粒子とその成形体
US20220235216A1 (en) Thermoplastic elastomer foam particles and molded body of same
JP6637903B2 (ja) ポリプロピレン系樹脂発泡粒子
JP6961607B2 (ja) 発泡粒子成形体
US11732101B2 (en) Polypropylene-based resin expanded beads and polypropylene-based resin expanded beads molded article
JP2023127943A (ja) 発泡粒子の製造方法及び発泡粒子成形体の製造方法。
TWI667273B (zh) 丙烯系樹脂發泡粒子及發泡粒子成形體

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

AS Assignment

Owner name: JSP CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KITAHARA, TAIZO;ONO, MICHITOSHI;TSURUGAI, KAZUO;REEL/FRAME:044625/0079

Effective date: 20171101

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: AWAITING TC RESP., ISSUE FEE NOT PAID

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: PUBLICATIONS -- ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIED

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4